The Game is the Game: 5 Time the Kardashians & Jenners Took Their “Inspo” A Little Too Far

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Kim Kardashian West has not been pleased with the constant knockoffs of her wardrobe being created by fast-fashion powerhouses.

Image: @KimKardashian Instagram

The most recent knockoff came when she was spotted attending the Hollywood Beauty Awards in a vintage black Thierry Mugler dress. Overnight, Fashion Nova managed to make a complete replica ready to sell; this served as a last straw for Mrs. West. She quickly went to Twitter to express her frustration.

It’s devastating to see these fashion companies rip off designs that have taken the blood, sweat and tears of true designers who have put their all into their own original ideas.

I’ve watched these companies profit off my husband’s work for years and now that it’s also affecting designers who have been so generous to give me access to their beautiful works, I can no longer sit silent.

Only two days ago, I was privileged enough to wear a one-of-a-kind vintage Mugler dress and in less than 24 hours it was knocked off and thrown up on a site – but it's not for sale. You have to sign up for a waitlist because the dress hasn’t even been made to sell yet.

This rant is comical for several reasons. How can you be so mad at the very company that your family frequently partners with? Not to mention the widespread rumor that you have a deal with them on the low? In addition, the Kardashian/Jenner family have a repeated history of stealing designs from less-known designers and artists, often being seen as culture vultures.

However, in honor of Mrs. West’s devastation, we have rounded up five times the family has copied and/or blatantly stole others’ designs and art.

When Kylie Cosmetics posted this campaign back in 2016, makeup artist, Vlada Haggerty immediately blasted Jenner and her company threatening to sue for copying her work. Realizing that Haggerty had a case, Kylie Cosmetics edited the caption crediting her before deleting the post entirely. However, Jenner did try to right her wrongs by posting Haggerty’s work on her personal Instagram stating it was “inspiring.”

2. June 2017: Khloe is accused of ripping off designer, Destiney Bleu’s bodysuit.

Image: The McArthur Law FirmLeft: Destiney Bleu’s Bodysuit Right: Good American Bodysuit

This was all over Twitter. Destiney Bleu, owner ofDBleudazzled, has designed clothes for Rihanna, Beyonce and more. She is known for her bodysuit and lingerie designs which Khloe ripped off. Back in 2017, Bleu accused Khloe of buying her designs only to use it for her clothing brand, Good American. However, Khloe and her team denied all claims and immediately sent Bleu a cease and desist. In the cease and desist, they claimed to not know who Bleu was or her brand. They said the design idea was inspired by Cher in the 1990s. Bleu then revealed documents showing proof of Khloe and her team trying to get in contact with her since November 2016 and purchasing quite a few items.

Merely a week after Khloe received backlash, Kylie was called out by Tizita Balemlay, owner ofPluggedNYC, for stealing her camo designs. Jenner allegedly bought their cargo camo-print pants along with several more pieces and wore them, only to use the designs for her clothing drop two weeks later. Balemlay quickly took notice of Jenner’s camo two-piece and provided screenshots showing email conversations between her and an employee of Jenner from May. The emails showed that Jenner had received pieces from PluggedNYC for a photoshoot, and she absolutely loved them (maybe a little too much).

Image: Tizita Balemlay

4. December 2017: Kim is caught stealing designs from Comme des Garcons and Vetements for her kid’s clothing line.

This one is perhaps the most blatant. In late 2017, for her kid’s clothing line, Kids Supply, Kim ripped off a limited edition Comme des Garconsx Kosho & Co jacket. It is literally the exact same jacket. Colors. Design. Wording. Same everything. As if that was not enough, West also decided to rip a Vetements’ dress for North. Again, same exact dress. Sequins. Length. Back Cut-out. Everything.

Last April, when KKW released her long-awaited eyeshadow palette, people quickly took notice of the electric blue shade, “Libra.” It highly resembled Mother, Pat McGrath’s blue shade, “Blitz Blue” from her Mothership I: Subliminal Palette. Not only was Kim’s color similar, but the position it held in her palette was the exact same as McGrath’s? And to further suspension, KKW Beauty’s campaign was strikingly similar to McGrath’s.

Mrs. West next time you decide to go on a rant and claim sympathy for the “blood, sweat, and tears of true designers,” please make sure to review you and your family’s track record before doing so. It is not easy being a creative. If you feel extremely “inspired” by something, give credit where credit is due. Acknowledge the designers and/or artists work, and maybe even hire the creative. It will not only make your designs stronger, but it will also help propel the creative and widen their platform and career. There is coin for everyone.

Nia is a Senior Editor at LAPP the Brand. She is a junior at Georgia State majoring in Journalism with a minor in Media Industry concentrating in PR. Her hobbies include watching "The Office", anything Harry Potter related and eating hot cheetos. Nia also loves her bed.